Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02373654 2002-07-29
Doc. No. 76-05 CA/PCT Patent
Shower Head With Water Purification Function
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shower head with water purification
function, used
in a kitchen, cook room, toilet or bathroom, and having an ability of
purifying water and,'or
hot water discharged at the time of use.
Background Art
As a shower head having an ability of purifying water and/or hot water,
attached to a
washstand or a shower used in a toilet or a bathroonl, there lias been
lieretofore used a
chlorine removing shower head described in, for example, Japanese Registered
Utility Model
Publication No. 3007614.
This chlorine removing shower head has a water quality purification cartridge
for
purifying the water quality, and a switcliing valve for switching water and/or
hot water
discharged from the shower between purified water and raw water, lioused
therein.
[Problem]
In such a conventional chlorine removing sliower head, the switching valve
housed
in the shower head body is arranged on the upstream side of the position where
the water
quality purification cartridge is housed. Therefore, with the one in which the
water quality
purification cartridge is housed in the body, the storage capacity of the
switching valve
becomes small, and the switching valve must be fornied small corresponding to
the storage
section. As a result, the shape and the structure are also restricted. The
production becomes
also difficult. With the one having the water quality purification cartridge
housed in the head
part, the head part beconles heavy compared to the body, thereby the weight
balance of the
shower head becomes bad, making it liard to use.
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Disclosure of the Invention
The present invention is for solving the above problems in the related art,
and it is an
object of the present invention to provide a shower head with water
purification function,
which can be formed in a well-balanced shape and structure in view of
handling, while
substantially easing the restrictions on the shape, the structure and the
storage capacity of the
switching valve.
As means specifically constructed so as to effectively solve the above
problems, a
shower head with water purification function according to a first expression
of the present
invention is a shower head comprising a holding part formed so as to have a
connection
terminal with other parts and be held directly by hand, and a head part having
a shower
delivery port integrally formed at the tip of the holding part. In the holding
part, a water
quality purification cartridge, which penetrates from the outer circumference
to the inner
circumference or from the inner circumference to the outer circumference to
purify the water
quality, is incorporated, and by the incorporation of the water quality
purification cartridge,
there are formed a water purification flow path which penetrates the water
quality
purification cartridge to form a delivery flow path towards the head part, and
a raw water
flow path constituting a flow path put side by side with the water
purification flow path,
which forms an inlet side flow path of the water purification flow path on the
upstream side,
and a delivery flow path towards the head part on the downstream side, without
penetrating
the water quality purification cartridge. In the head part, there are
incorporated a flow path
switching valve which switches between a delivery flow from the water
purification flow
path and a delivery flow from the raw water flow path, a straight delivery
port provided on
the downstream side of the flow path switching valve, side by side at a place
where the
shower delivery port is formed, and a delivery flow switching valve which
switches between
a delivery flow from the straight delivery port and a delivery flow from the
shower delivery
port. The flow path switching valve and the delivery flow switching valve are
formed so as to
be controlled from the outside of the head part independently of each other.
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By a shower head with water purification function according to a first
expression, a
water quality purification cartridge is incorporated, and by the incorporation
of said water
quality purification cartridge, a water purification flow path penetrating
said water quality
purification cartridge, and raw water flow path which does not penetrate said
water quality
purification cartridge are formed, it is enabled to use the space formed along
the upstream
side surface of said water quality purification cartridge as a cartridge
upstream side flow path,
each flow path of said water purification flow path and said raw water flow
path, the
downstream side flow path of said water quality purification cartridge is
formed each flow
path independently, and the upstream side surface of said water quality
purification cartridge
is cleaned by the raw water which flow said raw water flow path opened by
making the flow
path switching valve into the open side, therefore, solid substance
accumulated at the time of
discharging the purified water, which may cause clogging, can be easily
flushed at the time of
discharging the raw water, thereby making the water quality purification
cartridge hard to be
clogged, and the life can be made long, moreover, each flow path can be made
most simple
construction, and the shower head with water purification function can be
constructed light
weight and low price.
Moreover, in the holding part, the flow path configuration is such that the
raw water
flow path and the purified water flow path are formed only when the water
quality
purification cartridge is housed in the holding part. Therefore, the structure
of the holding
part is simplified. In the case where the flow path switching valve is
arranged on the
downstream side of the water quality purification cartridge, either one of the
raw water flow
path and the purified water flow path on the downstream side of the water
quality purification
cartridge is opened by the flow path switching valve. At the time of delivery
of raw water,
the raw water flow path is opened, thereby the raw water side flow path
located on the
upstream side of the purification material can be flushed by the raw water.
Furthermore, since the flow path switching valve and the delivery flow
switching
valve are formed independently operationally from the outside of the head
part, the straight
delivery and the shower delivery can be selected respectively with regard to
the raw water
delivery and the purified water delivery, thereby improving the convenience.
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A shower head with water purification function according to a second
expression of
the invention is characterized in that the water purification flow path and
the raw water flow
path formed by the incorporation of the water quality purification cartridge
are formed such
that a flow path on the outer periphery of the water quality purification
cartridge is formed as
a part of the raw water flow path, and a flow path from this outer peripheral
flow path to a
central space formed in the central part thereof via a water quality
purification material
provided in the water quality purification cartridge is formed as a part of
the water
purification flow path.
By a shower head with water purification function according to a second
expression
of the invention, a water quality purification cartridge is incorporated, and
by the
incorporation of said water quality purification cartridge, a water
purification flow path
penetrating said water quality purification cartridge, and raw water flow path
which does not
penetrate said water quality purification cartridge are formed, it is enabled
to use the space
formed along the upstream side surface of said water quality purification
cartridge as a
cartridge upstream side flow path, said water purification flow path and said
raw water flow
path formed by the incorporation of said water quality purification cartridge
are formed such
that a central space of said water quality purification cartridge is formed as
a part of said raw
water flow path, and a flow path from said central space to an outer
peripheral flow path via a
water quality purification material provided in said water quality
purification cartridge
formed as a part of said water purification flow path, each flow path of said
water purification
flow path and said raw water flow path, the downstream side flow path of said
water quality
purification cartridge each forming independently, therefore, the construction
of the flow path
can be made simple and compact, and the flow path on the outer peripheral side
(upstream
side) of the purification material becomes a common flow path for the raw
water and the
purified water, hence, solid substance accumulated at the time of discharging
the purified
water, which may cause clogging, can be easily flushed at the time of
discharging the raw
water, thereby making the water quality purification cartridge hard to be
clogged, and the life
can be made long.
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A shower head with water purification function according to a third expression
of the
invention is characterized in that the water purification flow path and the
raw water flow path
formed by the incorporation of the water quality purification cartridge are
formed such that a
flow path in the central space of the water quality purification cartridge is
formed as a part of
the raw water flow path, and a flow path from this central space flow path to
an outer
periphery formed at an outer surface thereof via a water quality purification
material
provided in the water quality purification cartridge is formed as a part of
the water
purification flow path.
By a shower head with water purification function according to a third
expression of
the invention, a water quality purification cartridge is incorporated, and by
the incorporation
of said water quality purification cartridge, a water purification flow path
penetrating said
water quality purification cartridge, and raw water flow path which does not
penetrate said
water quality purification cartridge are formed, it is enabled to use the
space formed along the
upstream side surface of said water quality purification cartridge as a
cartridge upstream side
flow path, said water purification flow path and said raw water flow path
formed by the
incorporation of said water quality purification cartridge are formed such
that a central space
of said water quality purification cartridge is formed as a part of said raw
water flow path,
and a flow path from said central space to an outer peripheral flow path via a
water quality
purification material provided in said water quality purification cartridge is
formed as a part
of said water purification flow path, each flow path of said water
purification flow path and
said raw water flow path, the downstream side flow path of said water quality
purification
cartridge each forming independently, therefore, the construction of the flow
path can be
made simple and compact, and the flow path on the central space side (upstream
side) of the
purification material becomes a common flow path for the raw water and the
purified water,
hence, solid substance accumulated at the time of discharging the purified
water, which may
cause clogging, can be easily flushed at the time of discharging the raw
water, thereby
making the water quality purification cartridge hard to be clogged, and the
life can be made
long.
A shower head with water purification function according to a fourth
expression of
the invention is characterized in that the flow path switching valve is
provided with a water
purification cutoff valve and a raw water cutoff valve separately.
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By the shower head with water purification function according to the fourth
expression of the invention, the water purification flow path which penetrates
the water
quality purification cartridge and forms the delivery flow path towards the
head part, and the
raw water flow path constituting a flow path which forms the inlet side flow
path of the water
purification flow path on the upstream side and the delivery flow path towards
the head part
on the downstream side, without penetrating the water quality purification
cartridge, can
effectively maintain independence. At the time of discharging the raw water,
the raw water
passing through the raw water flow path flushes the inlet side flow path of
the water
purification flow path. As a result, clogging is unlikely to occur, and the
life of the
incorporated water quality purification material can be extended.
A shower head with water purification function according to a fifth expression
of the
invention is characterized in that a collection section of the water
purification flow path and
the raw water flow path is provided on the downstream side of the flow path
switching valve.
By the shower head with water purification function according to a fourth
expression
of the invention, the independence of the water purification flow path and the
raw water flow
path can be
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maintained up to this collection section, and fi=onl this collection section,
water flows the
same flow path, and is discharged either in the form of shower delivery or in
the form of
straight delivery by means of the same delivery flow switching valve. As a
result, the
construction after the flow path switching valve can be simplified, and the
user can select the
shower delivery or straight delivery for the purified water and the raw water.
A shower head with water puritication function according to claim 5 is
characterized
in that the flow path switching valve is arranged on the upstream side of the
water quality
purification cartridge.
to
By the shower head with water purification function according to claim 5, the
ilow
path switching valve for switching the water quality can be formed operational
on the head
part side, and hence replacement of the water quality purification cartridge
can be performed
easily, and a shower head with water purification function that is
lightweiglit and cheap,
having good operability can be realized, without hardly changing the
appearance.
A shower head with water purification function according to claim 6 is
characterized
in that an operating part of the flow path switching valve is incorporated in
the head part, and
an operation end of the operating part is nlade to protrude outwards of the
head part.
By the shower head with watcr purification function according to claim 6, the
operation end of the operating part protruding from the head part of the
shower head can be
operated to switch between the purified mixed water and non-purified mixed
water. Hence,
the operability of switcliing the flow path is improved, thereby impr=oving
user-friendliness of
the shower head.
A shower head with water purification function according to claim 7 is
characterized
in that the flow path switching valve is formed as an alternately switching
cutoff valve having
a water purification cutoff valve and a raw water cutoff valve arranged side
by side, such that
a push button is formed as the operation end of the operating part, and the
flow path is
afternately cut off by tliis push button.
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By the shower head with water purification function according to claim 7, the
push
button protruding from the head part can be operated to switch between the
purified water
and the raw water, thereby enabling realization of a shower head with water
purification
function having excellent operability.
A shower head witli water purification function according to claim 8 is
characterized
in that the flow path switching valve is formed as an alternately switching
cutoff valve having
a water purification cutoff valve and a raw water cutoff valve arranged side
by side, such that
a control lever is formed as the operation end of the operating part, and the
flow patli is
alternately cut off by this control lever.
By the shower head with water purification function aceording to claim 8, the
control lever protruding from the head part can be operated to switch between
the purified
water and the raw water, thereby enabling realization of a shower head with
water
purification function having excellent operability.
A shower head with water purification ftinction according to claini 9 is
characterized
in that the water purification cutoff valve and the raw water cutoff valve of
the alternately
switching cutoff valve respectively comprise a spherical valving element.
By the shower head with water purification funetiotl according to claim 9, at
the time
of closing the valve, the water pressure applied to the spherical valving
element acts so as to
push the spherical valving element, being a valving element, onto the valve
seat, to thereby
effect reliable sealing.
A shower head with water purifieation function according to claim 10 is
characterized in that the delivery floNv switching valve is formed as a
delivery flow switching
valve comprising an operating part formed so as to be able to switch the flow
path from the
outside of the head part.
By the shower head witll water purification function according to claim 10,
with
respect to the purified water and the raw water, the delivery condition can be
selected
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between the shower delivery flow and the straight delivery flow, thereby
enabling realization
of highly convenient shower head.
A shower head with water purification function according to claim 11 is
characterized in that the delivery flow switching valve is formed as a cutoff
valve operated by
a lever and comprising a control lever operated frorn the outside of the head
part, as the
operating part.
By the shower head with water purification function according to claim 11, the
operation lever can be operated easily bNl a tingertip, and the delivery flow
condition can be
easily selected between the shower delivery tlow and the straight delivery
flow, thereby
improving the convenience of the shower head.
A shower head with water purification function according to claim 12 is
characterized
in that the delivery flow switching valve is formed as a delivery flow
switching valve
comprising a rotary operating part which operates the delivery port from the
outside of the
head part, as the operating part.
By the shower head with water purification function according to claim 12,
there is no
largely protruding member such as a lever, hence a head part easily operable
can be formed,
while being simplified in view of the appearance.
A shower head with water purification function according to claim 13 is
characterized
in that a germicidal ceramic and/or a sintered magnetic body is installed in
the flow path from
the water quality purification material to the delivery flow switching valve.
By the shower head with water purification function according to claim 13,
Nvater
quality purification is performed by mean5 of the synergistic effect of the
germicidal ceramic
and the sintered magnetic body, in additi.on to the water quality purification
action by means
of the water quality purification matcrial in the water quality puriiication
cartridge, thereby
the water quality can be purified more effectively.
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A shower head with water purification function according to claim 14 is
characterized
in that a germicidal ceramic and/or a sintered magnetic body is installed in
the flow path from
the flow path switching valve to the delivery flow switching valve.
By the shower head with water purification function according to claim 14,
while
water quality purification is performed by means of the synergistic effect of
the germicidal
ceramic and the sintered magnetic body in the head part, various germs are
prevented from
entering from the delivery port side, thereby the water quality can be
purified more
effectively. Propagation of various germs entering from the delivery port side
is also
suppressed, to thereby make it unnecessary to discard water at the initial
stage of use.
A shower head with water purification function according to claim 15 is
characterized in that a hose connected to a faucet is connected to the
connection terminal with
the other parts.
By the shower head with water pur-ifeation funetion according to claim 15,
discharge can be made in a wide area by the length of the hose, thereby
enabling realization
of a shower head with water purification function whicli can be conveniently
used in the
kitchen and in other washing places.
A shower head with water purification function according to claim 16 is
characterized in that a delivery port of a faucet is directly connected to the
connection
terminal with the other parts.
By the shower head with water purification function according to claim 16, a
faucet
having a shower head with water purification fiinction can be formed.
Brief Description or the Drawings
Fig. I is a perspective view showing a case where a shower head with water
purification function according to an embodiment of the present invention is
attached to
combination taps in a kitchen;
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Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the appearance of the shower head with water
purification function;
Fig. 3 is a side view showing the appearance of the shower head with water
purification function;
Fig. 4 is an elevation view showing the appearance of the shower head with
water
purification function;
Fig. 5 is a plan view in section showing the case where a cutoif valve on the
purified
water side of a flow path switching valve is in an open position, in the
shower head with
water purification function;
Fig. 6 is a side sectional view showing the case where the cutoff valve on the
purified water side of the flow path switclling valve is in the open position,
in the shower
head with water purification function;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view with respect to a face vertical to the axial
direction of a
holding part of the shower head with water purification function;
Fig. 8 is a plan view in section showing the case where the cutoff valve on
the
purified water side of the flow path switclling valve is in the open position,
in the head part of
the shower head with water purification tunction;
Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional side view at a position cut along the line A-A
in Fig.
8;
Fig. 10 is a sectional side view at a position cut along the line B-B in Fig.
8;
Fig. 11 is a sectional side view at a position cut atong the line C-C in Fig.
8;
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Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing an operating part of the flow
path
switching valve in the shower head with water purification function;
Fig. 13 is a sketch drawing showing a switching ring in the shower head with
water
purification function, (A) being a side view, (B) being a left frontal view,
(C) being a right
frontal view, (D) being an upper plan view and (E) being a lower plan view;
Fig. 14 is a sketch drawing showing a first switching frame in the shower head
with
water purification function, (A) being a side view, (B) being a left frontal
view, (C) being a
right frontal view, (D) being an upper plan view and (E) being a lower plan
view;
Fig. 15 is a sketch drawing showing a second switching frame in the shower
head
with water purification function, (A) being a side view, (B) being a left
frontal view, (C)
being a right frontal view and (D) being an upper plan view;
Fig. 16 is a plan view in section showing the case where a cutoff valve on the
raw
water side of the flow path switching valve is in an open position, in the
shower head with
water purification function;
Fig. 17 is a sectional side view showing the case where the cutoff valve on
the raw
water side of the flow path switching valve is in the open position, in the
shower head with
water purification function;
Fig. 18 is a plan view in section showing the case where the cutoff valve on
the: raw
water side of the flow path switching valve is in the open position, in the
head part of the
shower head with water purification function;
Fig. 19 is an enlarged sectional side view at a position cut along the line D-
D in Fig.
18;
Fig. 20 is a sectional side view at a position cut along the line E-E in Fig.
18;
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Fig. 21 is a sectional side view at a position cut along the line F-F in Fig.
18;
Fig. 22 is a perspective view showing the shower head with water purification
function attached to a faucet of a hose drawn-out and enclosed type in a first
other aspect of
the embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 23 is a plan view in section showing a shower head with water
purification
function provided with a water quality pur=ification cartridge having a
filtering material on the
outer periphery of a water quality purification material in a second other
aspect of the
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 24 is a sectional view with --espect to a face vertical to the axial
direction of a
holding part of the shower head with water purification function in the second
other aspect;
Fig. 25 is a plan view in section showing a shower head with water
purification
function, wherein the central space of a water quality purification cartridge
is made to be a
raw water flow path, in a third other aspect of the embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 26 is a plan view in section showing a shower head with water
purification
function, which purifies water after the water has passed through a cutoff
valve, in a fourth
other aspect of the embodinient of the present invention;
Fig. 27 is a sectional side view showing a shower head with water purification
function in the fourth otlier aspect;
Fig. 28 is a plan view in section showing a shower head with water
purificatiori
function, wherein a raw water flow path is formed in a water quality
purification cartridge in
a fifth other aspect of the embodinient of the present invention;
Fig. 29 is a sectional side view showing a shower head with water purification
function in the fifth other aspect;
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Fig. 30 is a sectional view showing the condition at the time of discharging
purified
water in a shower head with water purification function comprising a flow path
switchinl;
valve operated by a lever, in a seventh other aspect of the embodiment of the
present
invention, (A) being a plan view in section, (B) being a sectional side view,
and (C) being an
frontal view in section of the head part;
Fig. 31 is a sectional view showing the condition at the time ot discharging
raw
water in the shower head with water puri I ication fttnction in the seventh
other aspect, (A)
being a plan view in section, (B) being a sectional side view, and (C) being
an frontal view in
1 o section of the head part;
Fig. 32 is a sectional view showing the condition at the time of disellarging
purified
water in the shower head with water puritication function having a flow path
switching valve
operated by a seesaw type push button in an eighth othe;r aspect of the
embociiment of the
present invention, (A) being a plan view in section, (B) being a sectional
side view, aiid (C)
being an frontal view in section of the head part;
Fig. 33 showing the condition at the time of discharging raw water in the
shower
head with water purification function in the eighth other aspect, (A) being a
plan view in
section, (B) being a sectional side view, and (C) being an frontal view in
section of the liead
part;
Fig. 34 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the shower delivery state in
a
shower head with water purification function having a delivery flow switching
valve by a
rotary operation in a ninth other aspect of the enibodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 35 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the straight delivery state
in the
shower head with water purification function in the ninth other aspect;
Fig. 36 is a perspective view showing a screen member in the shower head with
water purification function in the ilinth other aspect;
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Fig. 37 is a parts diagram showing the screen member in the shower head with
vvater
purification function in the ninth other aspect, (A) being a plan view, (B)
being a longitudinal
sectional view;
Fig. 38 is a perspective view showing a flow path changing member in the
shower
head with water purification function in the ninth other aspect, (A) being a
perspective view
as seen from the upper face side, and (B) being a perspective view as seen
from the lower
face side;
Fig. 39 is a parts diagram showing the flow path changing member in the shower
head with water purification function in the ninth other aspect, (A) being an
upper plan view,
(B) being a side view, (C) being a side view at a position rotated by 90
degrees from (B), and
(D) being a lower plan view;
Fig. 40 is a perspective view showing a partition member in the shower head
with
water purification function in the ninth other aspect;
Fig. 41 is a parts diagram showing the partition inember in the shower head
with
water purification fiuiction in the ninth other aspect, (A) being an upper
plan view, (B) being
a side view, (C) being a lower plan view and (D) being a side view at a
position rotated by 90
degrees from (B);
Fig. 42 is a partly section side view showing a faucet direct-coupled shower
head
with water purification function in a tenth other aspect of the embodiment of
the present
invention; and
Fig. 43 is a perspective view showing a sllower head with water purification
function
connected to a single tap in an eleventh other aspect of the embodiment of the
present
invention.
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Description of the Preferred Embodiment
The case where a shower head with water purification function is provided at a
t:ap
installed in a kitchen will now be describcd as an embodiment of the present
invention.
However, this embodiment is for specifically explaining the outline of the
invention
so as to be easily understood, and does not limit the contents of the
invention, unless
otherwise specified.
[Construction]
In the kitchen of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, a faucet of combination
laps 2
which mixes hot water and water to let the water flow is arranged so that it
is located above a
sink, a shower head with water purification function 10 is attached to an end
of a flexible
hose 3 connected to this combination taps 2, and is detachably latched by a
shower head
support member (hereinafter referred to as a "holder section") 4 rotatably
provided below the
combination taps 2, to discharge water, liot water or hot water-water combined
water
(hereinafter, referred to simply as "combination water"), in the state with
the shower head
witli water purification function 10 latched with the holder section 4.
Moreover, from the
2o holder section 4, the shower head with water purification function 10 is
detached to pull out
the hose 3, according to need, and to bend and use the hose to discharge the
combination
water. Thereby, the combination water can be supplied freely in the range of
from the central
portion of the sink I to the peripheral portion thereof.
The shower head with water purif7cation function 10 used here comprises a
holding
part 11 having an end portion that can be attached to the hose 3 of the
combination taps 2,
and a head part 12 having a shower delivery port 12a integrally fornled at the
end portion
opposite to the hose mounting side of the holding part 11, so that it can be
used as a shower
head used in the kitchen, as shown in Fig. 2 to Fig. 4.
The holding part 11 is divided at the intermediate portion into a cylinder
portion 11 a
on the head part 12 side and a cylinder portion l 1 b on the hose mounting
side, and is
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provided with a threaded portion 1 lc for junction that makes it possible to
combine these two
portions detachably and integrally. By releasing the screw joint of this
threaded portion 1 lc
for junction and separating the cylinder portion 1 l a and the cylinder
portion I l b, a water
quality purification cartridge (see Fig. 5 and Fig. 6) can be lioused in the
holding part 11. At
the end portion of the hose mounting side., a hose connection section 1 I f in
a thick cylincirical
shape having a hose fixing screw 1 1 d is f'Ormed to make it easy to be
attached to or detached
from the hose.
In the head part 12, a push button 13 for switching the flow path protrudes at
the
position opposite to the holding part 11 side, and a straight delivery port
12b is formed in the
central part of the shower delively port 12a. Also, a switching lever 14 for
switching delivery
from the straight delivery port 12b and delivery from the shower delivery port
12a is arranged
so as to protrude from the lower face which forins the shower delivery port
12a, on the
downstream side close to the position where the push button 13 is arranged.
In the shower head 10, as shown in Fig. 5 to Fig. 7, the water quality
purification
cartridge 15 is housed. 'i'he holding part 11 which houses this water quality
purification
cartridge 15 uses the outer peripheral flow path 21 of the water quality
purification cartridge
15 as a part of the raw water flow path, and uses the central space 22 of the
water quality
purification cartridge 15 as a part of the water purification flow path. As a
result, in the case
of delivering purified water, the combination water flowing into the holding
part 11 passes
through a water quality purification material 15a in the water quality
purification cartriclge 15
from the outer peripheral flow path 21 of the water quality purification
cartridge 15 to purify
the water quality, and flows out to the central space 22. In the case of
delivering raw water,
the combination water passes through the outer peripheral flow path 21 of the
water quality
purification cartridge 15 and is delivered to the outside.
The water quality purification cartridge 15 stores the water quality
purification
material 15a formed in a cylindrical shape with a hole (central space 22)
provided
concentrically with the central axis, and a germicidal ceramic 15d in a
granular or pellet
form, clamped and arranged between non-woven fabrics 15b and 15c,
respectively, on the
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downstream side of the germicidal ceramic 15d, in two spaces formed by caps
15e, 15f aizd
15g divided into three.
The water quality purification material 15a is stored in the space provided by
the cap
15e formed in a cylindrical shape having a bottom and lots of slits provided
on the periplieral
wall, and the cap l 5f having a water quality purification material supporting
wall, which is a
plane vertical with respect to the axial dir-ection, having a hole serving as
a fluid flow path
drilled in the cylindrical central part, to form a titting portion with other
caps 15e and 15g at
each end portion.
The germicidal ceramic 15d clamped between the non-woven fabrics 15b and 15c
is
stored in the internal space of a cylinder on a larger diameter side provided
by the cap 15g1
which connects two cylinders having a different diameter from that of the cap
15f, by a wall
face vertical to the axial direction, and forms a fitting portion with the cap
15f in the cylinder
liaving a larger diameter of the two cylinders, and forms a fitting portion
with the cartriclge
accepting portion 11 e(deseribed later) provided on the head part 12 side, in
the cylinder
having a smaller diameter.
The water quality purification material 15a to be stored therein comprises
activated
carbon as a main component, and is harciened in a cylindrical shape, wherein
when the
combination water penetrates through between the outer peripheral face of this
cylinder and
the central hole, chemical components dissolved into the water and fine solid
substances
floating in the water are adsorbed or filtered.
The germicidal ceramic l5d is formed by adhering silver or copper to the one
obtained by mixing zinc oxide, montmorillonite or the like in ealciuni
phosphate as a base,
and sintering the mixture in a grarnilar or pellet form, which sterilizes by
adsorbing harmful
bacteria in the water on the surface thereof, and sterilizes or disinfects the
harmful bacteria in
the water by releasing metal ions, to thereby make the water quality harmless.
In the case of discharging raw water, since the combination water passes
through the
flow path 21 formed on the outer peripheral side ol'the water quality
purification cartridge
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15, fine solid substances, which may cause clogging in the surface of the
water quality
purification material, accumulated at the time of discharging the purified
water is flushed by
the raw water passing through the flow path 21, so that clogging unlikely
occurs at the time
of discharging the purified water, the puri fication capacity of the water
quality purification
materiat 15a is maintained at a high level, and the life thereof is extended.
In particular, in
the case of discharging hot water as the raw water, as the hot water
temperature becomes
higher, trihalomethane, metal ions and the like adsorbed at the time of
discharging the
purified water are discharged from the activated carbon, being the main
component of the
water quality purification material 15a, and can be effectively removed. As a
result, the
io regenerative effect of the activated carbon can be increased.
In the inner end portion of the cylinder portion 11 a on the head part 12 side
of the
holding part 11, the cylindrical cartridge accepting portion 1 le for
inserting and securing the
tip portion of the water quality purification cartridge 15 (the end portion on
the smaller
i 5 diameter side of the cap 15g) is provided in a protruding condition.
By inserting the end portion on the smaller dianleter side of the cap 15g of
the water
quality purification cartridge 15 into this cartridge accepting portion 11 e,
the position of the
water quality purification cartridge 15 is fixed.
At the end portion on the srnaller diameter side of the cap 15g, an 0-ring 15h
is
provided on the periphery thereof, so that in the case where the end portion
of the cap i 5g is
inserted into the cartridge accepting portion t 1 e, leakage can be prevented
by the O-ririg 15h
disposed in close contact with the inner peripheral face of the cartridge
accepting portion l le.
Then, the flow path 23 on the outer peripheral side of the cartridge accepting
portion
11 e is communicated to the outer peripheral flow path 21 of the water quality
purification
cartridge 15 and is used as a part of the raw water flow path. and the flow
path 24 on the
inner peripheral side of the cartridge accepting portion 1 1 e is communicated
to the central
space 22 of the water quality purification cartridge 15 via the germicidal
ceramic 15d and is
used as a part of the purified water flow path.
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In the head part 12 where the push button 13 and the switching lever 14
protrude, as
shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 6, and FIGS. 8 to 11. the raw water flow path (21, 23)
and the water
purification flow path (22, 24) are respectively communicated to an inlet
(valve inlet portion)
of each cutoff valve 16 and cutoff valve 17. 'These cutoff valves 16 and 17
serve as a flow
path switching valve (water quality switching valve) operated simultaneously
by the pusli
button 13.
The outlet (downstream si(le) of each cutoff valve 16 and cutoff valve 17 is
fornied
in one same space 18 (hereinafter, referred to as collecting portion), and on
the downstream
side of this collecting portion 18, a sintered magnetic body 19 formed in a
disc shape having
a plurality of small holes formed therein is arranged between a partition
member 12c and a
partition member 12d, so that even if the shower head 10 is swung, it does not
loose stability
by pressing the sintered magnetic body 19 towards the partition member 12d by
means of a
spring part 20.
This sintered magnetic body 19 is formed by providing an amorphous film layer
formed of iron oxide, cobalt oxide, lithium carbonate, or the like as a nlain
raw material, on
the surface of a ferrite type base using iron oxide as a main raw material.
This sintered
magnetic body 19 itself has a water purification function and a sterilizing
function, and
accelerates release of metal ions from the germicidal ceramic and release of
oxygen from
montmorillonite, by the action of the inagnetic force, to thereby strengthen
the sterilizing
effect. Also, various gernis propagated inside of the activated carbon, being
the main
component of the water quality purification material 15a, are effectively
sterilized or
disinfected, to thereby improve the water quality.
According to the arrangement position tliereof, the germicidal action is
exerted even
against the bacteria entering from the delivery side, to suppress propagation
of various germs,
to thereby make it unnecessary to discard water at the iilitial stage of use.
Moreover, since a
large sintered magnetic body 19 can be put in the 11ead part 12, the
purification function
thereof can be improved, and the holding part 1 l can be made to have a small
diameter, and
to have a diameter easy to grip, thereby it can be prevented that the holding
part 11 becomes
large.
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On the downstream side of this sintered magnetic body 19, there is provided a
collecting and transient section 25 in which the combination water having
passed througli
small holes in the sintered magnetic body 19 is collccted in the central
portion, and
discharged to the respective inlet portion of the shower delivery port 12a and
the straight
delivery port 12b. On the downstreani side close to this collecting and
transient section 25
with a slight gap therebetween, a cylindrically formed inlet portion of the
straight delivery
port l2b is formed, a valving element 26a of the delivery flow switching valve
26 is arranged
between the collecting and ti-ansient section 25 and the inlet portion of the
straight delivery
port 12b, and the outer peripheral side of the inlet portion of the straight
delivery port 12b is
made to be an inlet portion of the shower delivery port 12a.
The delivery flow switching valve 26 comprises a valving element 26a formed so
as
to be able to freely come into and out from a gap provided between the
collecting and
transient section 25 and the inlet portion of the straight delivery port 12b,
with the upper face
being formed in a shallow concave, and a shaft portion 26b penetrating through
the shower
delivery port 12a and rotatably supported about the axis, with an attachment
end of the
valving element 26a being adhered to the end portion of the shaft portion 26b
located inside
of the shower delivery port 12a, anci with an attachnlent end of the switching
lever 14 being
adhered to the end portion thereof located outside of the shower delivery port
12a.
The cutoff valve 16 and the cutoff valve 17 are arranged in such a manner that
the
position thereof is respectively shifted with respect to the axial direction
of the holding part
11, as shown in FIGS. 5, 10 and 11, between the cutoff valve 16 comtnunicating
with the raw
water flow path (21, 23) and the cutotf valve 17 communicating with the water
purification
flow path (22, 24), so that either one of those valves is closed depending on
the indentation of
the push button 13.
As shown in Fig. 10, the cutoff valve 16 is closed in such a manner that the
position
of the valve seat 16a is determined so that the valve is closed with a shallow
indentation of
the push button 13, and the valve seat 16a is formed in an annular body, and a
valving
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element 16b formed in a hard spherical shape (ball) such as a steel ball is
put on a ring-
shaped hole thereof from the upstream side.
In this cutoff valve 16, a box-shaped valving element supporting material 16c
is
formed, and a coil spring 16d and the valving element l 6b are housed inside
of the valvii.lg
element supporting material 16c, and the valving element 16b is pressed
towards the valve
seat 16a by the thrust of the coil spring 16d.
As shown in Fig. 11, the cutoff valve 17 is closed in such a manner that the
position
t o of the valve seat 17a is determined so that the valve is closed with a
deep indentation of the
push button 13, and the valve seat 17a is lormed in an annular body, and a
valving element
17b formed in a hard spherical shape (ball) such as a steel ball is put on a
ring-shaped hole
thereof from the upstream side.
In this cutoff valve 17, a box-shaped valving element supporting material 17c
is
formed, and a coil spring 17d and the valving elemcnt 17b are housed inside of
the valving
element supporting material 17c, atid the valving element l 7b is pressed
towards the valve
seat 17a by the thrust of the coil spring I 7d.
As shown in Fig. 10, in the case where the cutoff valve 16 stops at a position
of
closing the valve, since the indentation ol'the push button 13 is shallow, the
cutoff valve 17 is
in a state that the valving element 17b stops at an edge portion of the valve
seat 17a, as shown
in Fig. 11, and does not reach the hole portion of the valve seat 17a formed
in an annular
shape, and hence the valve 17 is in an opened state.
Between the push button 13. anci the cutoff valve 16 and the cutoff valve 17,
as
shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 12, a switching shaft 13a having two push rods 31
integrally formed,
which engage with the valving element supporting material 1 Eic and the
valving element
supporting material 17c to simultaneously push the valving element supporting
material 16c
3o and the valving element supporting material l 7c, to thereby nlove the
valving element 16b
and the valving element 17b at the same time, and a combination of three
parts, that is, a
switching ring 13b, a first switching franle '13c and a second switching frame
13d,
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constituting a cam mechanism for changing the moving distance of this
switching shaft 13a,
are fitted at a predetermined position.
The switching shaft 13a is formed such that the two push rods 31 are arranged
on
both sides, and a cylindrical member having a bottonz 32 is arranged in the
central portion
thereof, with the bottom facing the valve side, and the cylindrical member
having a bottom
32 and each push rod 31 are connected by two plate-like support members 33,
with a
predetermined interval, respectively.
At the end portion on the external side of the portion where the support
members 33
of respective push rods 31 are connected, there are formed claw members 34 for
engaging
with the side of the push button 13 so as to protrude, with resilience so as
to be able to freely
come close to or alienate from the end portion, respectively. At the
respective end portions
where the claw members 34 are provided, guide menibers 35 are formed in a
protruding
condition, which guide the moving direction of the push rods 31
perpendicularly with respect
to the protruding direction of each claw member 34.
The switching ring 13b is constructed suc11 that grooves 36a are engraved on
the
inner diameter side of a cylinder portion 36, a guard portion 37 is provided
or- the outer
periphery of the cylinder portion 36, and claws 38 are protruded, which engage
with a
switching cover 13e described later to thereby fix the position, at the upper
and lower erid
portions of the guard portion 37, as shov:n in Fig. 13(A) to Fig. 13(E).
The grooves 36a engraved on the inner diameter side of the cylinder portion 36
is
constructed such that axially shallow grooves 361 and axially deep grooves 362
are engraved
alternately, and slopes 36b inclined to the same direction are formed on the
end face on the
switching shaft side where there is no groove engraved, so that the end
portions of ribs 43
provided on the first switching frame 13c abutting against it nlove along the
direction of the
formed slope 36b and are guided to comc into either the engraved shallow
groove 361 or the
axially deep groove 362.
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The first switching frame 13c is divided into a thin shaft 41 and a thick
shaft 42, as
shown in Fig. 14(A) to Fig. 14(E), and three ribs 43 extending axially towards
the thick shaft
42 are arranged in a standing condition at an equai pitch on the peripliery
thereof. At the end
portion located on the switching ring side of this rib 43, there is formed a
slope 43a inclined
in the same direction with the slope 36b provided at the end face on the
switching shaft side
of the switching ring 13b.
The second switching frame 13d is formed, as shown in Fig. 15(A) to Fig.
15(D),
such that on a cylindrical member 44 having a hole with the thin shaft 41 of
the first
switching frame 13c being inserted into one end thereof, and a positioning
support rod 13f of
the push button 13 protruding to the inner central portion being inserted to
the other end
thereof, six ribs 45 are arranged in a standing condition at an equal pitch on
the periphery
thereof at the end portion located on the first switching frame side, and at
the end portion
where the ribs are arranged, there are formed concave portions 44a with the
end face inclined.
The end portion of the first switching frame 1 3c wliere the slopes 43a of the
ribs provided
thereon abuts against those concave portions 44a. The ribs 43 of the first
switching franle
13c abutting against the concave portions move along the slope formed on the
inclined
concave portions 44a, to thereby rotate the first switcliing frame 13c in a
certain direction.
The switching cover 13e is fornied, as shown in Fig. 12, in such a nlanner
that a
cylinder portion 48 is formed in the central part of a plate portion 47 where
push rod insertion
holes 46 are formed, into which the cylindrical member having a bottom 32 of
the switching
shaft 13a is internally fitted so as to be able to move freely in the axial
direction, and the
cylinder portion 36 of the switching ring 1 3b is internally fitted, holes 49
engaged with the
claws 38 of the switching ring 13b are formed on the upper and lower positions
of the fip
portion of this cylinder portion 48, and notches 50 are formed, which makes it
possible that
the support members 33 of the switching, shatt 13a pass movably in the axial
direction, on the
side face where the push rod insertion holes 46 of the cylinder portion 48 are
formed.
Between the side wall where the push rod insertion holes 51 of the partition
member
12c which divides the inside of the head part 12, and the plate portion 47
where the push rod
insertion holes 46 of the switching cover 13e, 0-rings 52 are placed
corresponding to the
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position where respective push rod insertion holes 46 and 51 are formed, and a
coil spring 53
is arranged and intervened in the middle portion of the 0-rings, to energize
the bottom of the
cylindrical member having a bottoni 32 of'the switching shaft 13a by a spring
force in the
direction of alienating from the side wall of the partition member 12c.
In the case where the switching shaft 13a moves in the direction of alienating
from
the side wall of the partition member 12c by the spring force of the coil
spring, 53, the ribs 43
of the first switching frame 13c enter into the deep grooves 36a (362) of the
switching ring
13b. If it is in such a condition that there is nothing obstructing the
movement thereof, tlze
I o first switching frame 13c and the second switching frame 13d abutting
against the cylindrical
member having a bottom 32 slide in the same direction as the moving direction
of the
switching shaft 13a, within the deep groove 36a (362) engraved in the cylinder
portion 36 of
the switching ring 13b, until the end edge on the opening side of the
cylindrical member
having a bottom 32 provided on the switching shaft 13a abuts against the guard
portion 37 of
the switching ring 13b and stops.
[Operation and Effects]
In the embodiment constructed in sucll a niamier, by operating the push button
13
assembled in the head part 12, the purifie-d combination water flows out in
the state witl'l the
push button 13 protruding from the head part 12 (with a shallow indentation),
and raw water
flows out in the state with the push button 1-3) entering in the head part 12
and the protruding
amount thereof is small (with a deep indentation).
At first, when it is assumed that the purified combination water is flowing
out, as
shown in Fig. 16 to Fig. 21, when the push button 13 is pushed, the second
switching frame
13d abutting against the push button 13 pushes the first switching franle 13c,
to transnlit the
thrust from the first switching franle 13c to the switching shaft 13a, to
thereby move the
switching shaft 13a in the direction approaching the side wall of the
partition member l 2c,
against the spring force of the coil spring 53.
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At this time, if the first switching frame 13c slides in the groove of the
switching
ring 13b and moves until it comes off the groove, the first switching frame
13c pushed by the
second switching frame 13d moves so as to change the direction to adhere in
accordance with
the shape of the abutting portion of the second switching franle 13d and the
first switching
frame 13c. As a result, the first switching frame 13c rotates, to change the
relative position of
the first switching frame 13c and the end face 36b of the switching ring 13b,
and open the
cutoff valve 16 and close the cutoff valve 17, thus switches over to the
outflow of the non-
purified combination water.
When the cutoff valve 16 is opened and the cutoff valve 17 is closecl, to
change the
flowing-out combination water to the noii-purified combination water, the
switching shaft
13a is returned by the amount of play by rneans of the spring force of the
coil spring 53. As a
result, the end portions of the ribs provided on the lirst switching frame 13c
abut against the
shallow grooves engraved on the switching ring 13b to thereby fix the
position.
By pushing the push button 13 again, to transnlit the thrust from the second
switching frame 13d abutting against the push button 13 to the first switching
frame 13c and
to the switching shaft 13a, the switching shaft 13a is moved in the direction
approaching the
side wall of the partition member 12c against the spring force of the coil
spring 53. Then, the
end portions of the ribs provided on the 1 ii-st switclling frame 13c come off
the engagement
with the shallow groove 36a (361) engraved on the switching ring 13b, and the
first switching
frame 13c pushed by the second switching frame 13d moves so as to change the
direction to
adhere in accordance with the shape of the abutting portion of the second
switching franie
13d and the first switching frame 13c. As a result, the first switching frame
13c rotates, to
change the relative position of the first switching fi=ame 13c. and the end
face 36b of the
switching ring 13b.
As a result, as shown in Fig. 5 to Fig. 11, the ribs 43 provided on the first
switching
frame l3e enter into the axially deep grooves 36a (362) on the switching ring
13b, and the
ribs 43 provided on the first switching frame 13c is made to slide along the
groove on the
switching rings 13b, in the direction alienating from the side wall of the
partition member
12c. Thereby, the switching shaft 13a abutting against the first switching
frame 13c is rnoved
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in the direction alienating from the side wall of the partition niember 12c,
to close the cutoff
valve 16 and open the cutoff valve 17, so as to switch to the outflow of the
purified
combination water.
In the case of the shower delivery, when the switching lever 14 is operated,
separately from the operation of the push button 13, to be rotated about the
shaft portion 26b,
the valving element 26a comes off the inlet portion of the straight delivery
port 12b, and the
combination water flowing out from the collecting and transient section 25
flows into the
inlet portion of the straight delivery port 12b, to thereby cause straight
delivery flow.
Moreover, in the case of the straight delivery, when the switching lever 14 is
operated in the opposite direction, to be rotated about the shaft portion 26b
in the reverse
direction, the valving element 26a comes into the inlet portion of the
straight delivery port
12b, and the combination water flowing out from the collecting and transient
section 25 is
prevented from flowing into the inlet po--tion of the straight delivery port
12b, to thereby
change the flow path to the shower delivery port 12a side, and effect shower
delivery flow, as
shown in Fig. 6.
In such an embodiment, the restriction on the flow path switching valve compr-
ising
2o the cutoff valves 16 and 17 for changing over the water quality can be
extended to the range
which can be incorporated in the head part 12, and hence the restriction on
the size of the
flow path switching valve can be considerably eased. Since the operation of
the flow path
switching valve is possible on the llead part 12 side, the operability is
improved. Moreover,
the weight distribution between the heacl part 12 and the holding part I 1 can
be made well-
balanced, and as a result, the shower head can be formed in a shape and
structure well-
balanced in view of handling of the shower head.
By the incorporation of the water quality purification cartridge 15 in the
holdirig part
11, a part of the raw water flow path can be formed on the outer peripheral
side of the water
quality purification cartridge 15, and a part of the water purification flow
path running from
this raw water flow path to the central space 22 fornied in the central part
of the water quality
purification cartridge 15 via the water quality puritication material 15a
provided in the water
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quality purification cartridge 15 can be formed. As a result, the flow path
construction can be
simplified and can be made compact, and the structure of the holding part 11
becomes
simple, thereby contents of the water quality purification material 15a can be
stored in a
larger amount.
The flow path on. the upstream side of the water quality purification material
15a
becomes a common flow path for the raw water and the purified water. Hence,
solid
substance and other built-up substance accumulated at the tinie of discharging
the purified
water, which may cause clogging, can be flushed at the time of discharging the
raw water,
thereby making it hard to be clogged, and the life ofthe water quality
purification material
15a can be extended.
The water quality purification cartridge 15 is built in the holding part: 11,
and the
flow path switching valve is incorporatetl in the head part 12. 1-lence, the
flow path can be
fornled in the simplest manner, and the weight distribution is well-balanced,
thereby the
shower head becomes well-balanced in N iew of hatidling, lightweight and
cheap.
Since the raw water cutoff valve 16 and the purified water cutoff valve 17 are
alternately switching type cutoff valves which cut off the flow path
alternately by the same
push button 13, by pushing the push button 13 protruding on tlie head part 12,
the flow path
switching valve can switcll between the purified combination water and non-
purified
combination water for use, thereby the operability is improved.
Moreover, the raw water cutoff valve 16 and the purified water cutoff valve
17,
being the alternately switching type cutoff valve, are respectively spherical
valving elements
16b and 17b. Hence, water pressure applied on the spherical valving elements
16b and 17b
acts so as to push the spherical valving clements 16b and 17b towards the
valve seats 16a and
17a, together with the energizing lorce of the coil springs 16d and 17d,
thereby enabling
reliable seal.
Since the delivery flow switching valve 26 is fornied as a cutoff valve
operated by a
lever, even in the case where either of the raw water cutoff valve 16 and the
purified water
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I)oc. No. 76-05 CA/PCT Patent
cutoff valve 17 is opened, the shower delivery flow and the straight delivery
flow can be
selected, thereby enabling improvernent of the convenience.
This shower head 10 with water purification function can be used also in the
toilet,
bathroom of the like, other than the kitchen, and hence generality is veiy
high.
[Other aspects]
Since the above-described embodiment is specifically described for easy
io understanding of the general idea of the invention, but does not impose any
limitation on the
contents of the invention. Ilence, it does not limit other aspects which are
not particulat=ly
described, and may be adequately changed. In this context, other aspects in
accordance with
the general idea of the invention will now be described.
[First other aspect]
In the above embodiment, the sliower head 10 with water purification function
is
connected to the combination taps 2 via the exposed hose 3 connected to the
combination
taps 2. However, as shown in Fig. 22, the shower head 10 with water
purification function
may be mounted to a hose (not shown) inserted into a holder section5a of the
combination
taps 5, and provided so as to be able to he freely pulled out or stored.
In this case, at the time of use. the shower head 10 with water purification
function
can be pulled out from the holder section5a, according to need, to extend the
hose, and
discharge combination water at an optional positioti. After use, while
returning the hose into
the holder section5a, the shower head 10 with water purification function is
engaged
therewith to return it to the original state. As a result, the delivery range
can be enlarged
from the position close to the conlbination taps 5 to the liniit where the
hose can be extended,
thereby the appearance around the taps is improved, and the user-friendliness
can be also
improved.
[Second other aspect]
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In the above embodiment, the water quality purification cartridge 15 has a cap
15e
covering the whole water quality purification material 15a which purifies the
combination
water, and the water quality purification niaterial 15a comprising activated
carbon as a main
component and solidified in a cylindrical shape, is stored in the cap 15e.
However, as shown
in Fig. 23 and Fig. 24, a filtering material 15i may be provided on the outer
periphery of the
water quality purification material 15a, and the shape of the cap 15e may be
changed so that
most part of the filtering material 1 Si is exposed in the combination water
directly.
In this case, the water quality purification cartridge 15 is constructed in
such a
manner that the filtering material 1 Si is provided on the outer periphery of
the water quality
purification material 15a comprising activated carbon as a main coinponent,
and the cap 15e
is formed in a shape holding only the enci portion on the upstream side of the
water quality
purification material 15a, and the end pol-tion thereof on the downstream side
is held by a cap
-5 15f, so that the most part on the outer periphery of the water quality
purification material 15a
covered with the filtering material 15i is exposed.
As a result, at the time of discharging raw water, built-up substance
accumulated on
the surface of the filtering material 15i at the time of discharging puriiied
water can be
flushed, by the combination water which passes the outer periphery of'the
water quality
purification material 15a covered with the filtering niaterial 15i, iti the
common flow path of
the raw water and the purified water on the upstream side than the water
quality purification
material 15a. Hence, clogging is unlike(y to occur, and deterioration of the
water quality
purification material 15a can be prevented, to thereby maintain the water
quality purification
performance at a high level for a long period of time.
[Third other aspect]
In the above embodiment, the raw water passes through the outer peripheral
flow
path 21 fornied on the outer peripheiy of the water quality purification
cartridge 15 as the raw
water flow path, and the water purificaiion i7ow path is formed such that
water is purified by
penetrating from the outer peripheral flow path 21 through the water quality
purification
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material 15a and coming out to the central space 22. On the contrary, as shown
in Fig. 25,
the construction may be such that the raw water passes the central space 22 as
the raw water
f7ow path, and the water purification flow path may be formed in such a manner
that water is
purified by penetrating from this central space 22 through the water quality
purification
niaterial and flowing out to the outer peripheral flow path 21.
That is to say, the central part of the water quality purification cartridge
15 is formed
as the raw water flow path, and the outer peripheral flow pat1121 oi.'the
water quality
purification cartridge 15 is formed as the water purification flow path, and
individual
lo menlbers other than the member associated with the flow path forniation are
made to be the
same as those of the above embodiment. As a result, there is formed a shower
head which
switches between discharge of the purified water which penetrates tlirough the
water quality
purification material 15a from the central space 22 toward the outer
peripheral side, and
discharge of the raw water passing the central space 22 without penetrating
through the water
quality purification material 15a, by the operation of the push button 13
provided in the head
part 12.
The water quality purification cartridge 15 is formed in such a manner that a
water
quality purification material 15k formed in a cylindricai shape, which
comprises three layers,
that is, a water quality purification material 15a arranged on the inner side,
and comprising
activated carbon solidified in a cylindrical shape by providing a central
space 22, being an
open hole concentric with the central axis, as a main component, a germicidal
ceramic 15j
formed in a cylindrical shape and arranged on the outer periphery of this
activated carbon,
and a filtering material 15i comprising a nonwoven fabric which covers the
outer periphery of
the filtering material 15i, is housed in a space formed by divided caps 151
and 15m.
Of these, a hole 15n is formed in the central portion at the end face of the
cap 151,
and a hole 15p is formed in the central portion at the end face of the cap
15m, so that raw
water flowing from the faucet (or a hose) side into the 1lolding part 11 can
pass through the
hole 15n and flow into the central space 22, and flow out to the cutoff valve
side, after having
passed through the hole 15p froni the central space 22.
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At the end portion on the raw water intlow side of the water quality
purification
cartridge 15, a protruding cylinder portion 55 to be internally fitted to a
hose connecting
portion 11 f of the holding part 11 is formed, and an 0-ring groove 56 is
engraved on the
outer periphery of the cylinder portion 55. An O-ring 57 is fitted in the 0-
ring groove 56, to
seal between the inner face of the hose connecting portion 11 f and the outer
periphery of the
cylinder portion 55, so that the raw water is prevented from flowing into the
water
purification flow path (the outer peripheral flow path 21) side.
Since the respective positions oi'the cutoff valve 16 on the raw water side
and the
i o cutoff valve 17 on the purified water side arranged in the head part 12
are opposite to those in
the above embodiment, and the outer peripheral flow path 21 of the water
quality purification
cartridge 15 is designated as the water p2irification flow path, a valve
arranged at a position
communicating with the flow path on the upstream side of the water quality
purification
cartridge 15 is designated as the cutoff valve 17 on the purified water side,
and a valve
arranged at a position communicating with the flow path on the central space
22 of the water
quality purification cartridge 15 is designated as the cutoff valve 16 on the
raw water side.
Thus, the positions of the valve seats through which the purified water or the
raw water
passes are positions opposite to those in the above enibodiment.
By the arrangement of these cutoff valves, the relation between the operation
of the
push button 13 and the opening or closing operation of each cutoff valve 16,
17, or the
delivery state becomes opposite to that in the above embodiment. That is to
say, in the case
where the push button 13 is in the position of shallow indentation, the cutoff
valve 16 on the
raw water side is opened, and the cutofi'valve 17 on the purif'ied water side
is closed, to
discharge raw water. When the push button 13 is in the position of deep
indentation, the
cutoff valve 17 on the purified water side is opened, and the cutoff valve 16
on the raw water
side is closed, to discharge purified water.
[Fourth other aspect]
In the above embodiment, the flow path is formed such that the combination
water
reaches the cutoff valve 17 on the puri! ied water side after being purified.
However, on the
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contrary, as shown in Fig. 26 and Fig. 27, the flow path is formed such that
the combination
water passes through the cutoff valve 17 on the purified water side, and then
penetrates
through the water quality purification material 15a to thereby be purified.
That is to say, individual members other than the members related to the
construction of the flow path have the sanie construction as in the above
embodiment, and the
point that a shower head in which the purified water and the raw water are
switched by the
push button 13 provided in the head part 12 is the same.
The points different from the above embodiment in view of the construction are
described below.
At first, on the inner side of a cylinder portion 11 a protruding from the
head part 12
side, an inner cylinder portion 101 protruding until reaching the end portion
on the upstream
side of the water quality purification cartridge 15 is concentrically provided
with a
predetermined flow path width therebetween, to thereby form a raw water flow
path 102 on
the outside of the inner cylinder portion 101, and a cartridge outer
peripheral flow path 103
on the inside of the inner cylinder portion 101. This cartridge outer
peripheral flow path 103
communicates with a flow path 104 on the downstream side of the cutoff valve
17.
Then, on the inner side of the inner cylinder portion 101, a cartridge
accepting
portion 11 e, into which a cap 15g arranged otl the head part side of the
water quality
purification cartridge 15 is inserted, is lormed at the tip portion thereof. A
section linking
from the tip portion to a collecting portion 105 formed on the outlet side of
the cutoff valve
16 on the non-purified side forms a rectangular purified water conduit 106 in
the inner
cylinder. The outside of this purified water conduit 106 in the inner cylinder
becomes a flow
path communicating with the cartridge outer peripheral flow path 103, and the
inside of the
purified water conduit 106 in the inner cylinder becomes a puritied water flow
path 107,
which is a flow path of the purified water having passed through the water
quality
purification cartridge 15.
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The water quality purification cartridge in this case is constructed such that
the end
portion arranged on the head part 12 side is formed in the same manner as in
the above
embodiment. The end portion arranged on the raw water outflow side of the
holding part 11
is formed such that at an end portion of the cap 15e, there is formed a
cylindrical cap end
portion with a bottom, having a thick portion abutting against the end face,
and internally
fitted to the tip portion of the inner cylinder portion 101, and an 0-ring
groove 15q is
engraved on the outer periphery of the cap end portion, then an 0-ring 15r
which prevents
liquid leakage is fitted to the 0-ring groove 15q, abutting against the inner
face of the tip
portion of the inner cylinder portion 101.
The thus formed water quality purification cartridge 15 is inserted into the
inner
cylinder portion 101, the cap 15g at the tip is internally fitted to the
cartridge accepting
portion 11 e, and the cap end portion of the cap 15e abuts against the tip
portion of the inner
cylinder portion 101 to thereby secure the position. As a result, the
cartridge outer peripheral
flow path 103 is formed by a gap formed between the inner cylinder portion 101
and the
water quality purification cartridge 15.
As a result, when raw water t7ows into the holding part 1 I from the hose
connecting
portion 11 f of the holding part 11, the raw water passes through the raw
water flow path 102
formed on the outer periphery of the inner cylinder portion 101 and flows into
a common
space in the valve provided on the upstream of the cutoff valves 16 and 17,
and is divided
into raw water delivery or purified water delivery, depending on the position
of the push
button 13.
In the case of delivery of the purified water, as shown in Fig. 27, water
passes
through a valve seat 17a of the cutoff valve 17, and flows into the cartridge
outer peripheral
flow path 103 from the flow path 104 on the downstream side via the outside of
the purified
water conduit 106 in the inner cylinder, penetrates through the water quality
purification
material 15a of the water quality purification cartridge 15 and flows out to
the central space
22. Then, the water penetrates from this central space 22 through a non-woven
fabric 15b, a
germicidal ceramic 15d and a non-woven fabric 15c, and further passing through
the water
purification flow path 107 on the inner side of the purified water conduit 106
in the inner
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cylinder, flows out to the collecting portion 105, then passes through a
sintered magnetic
body 19 and flows to the outside by shower delivery flow or the straight
delivery flow.
In this manner, a shower head having a flow path reaching the water quality
purification cartridge 15 through the cutoff valve 17 can be formed, and each
flow path
switching valve 16, 17 can be provided on the upstream side of the water
quality purification
cartridge 15. Hence, each flow path switching valve 16, 17 can be provided on
either side of
the upstream side and the downstream sicle of the water quality purification
cartridge 15.
These valves can select purified combination water or non-purified combination
water by the
operation of the push button 13 provided in the head part 12, and the straight
delivery flow
and the shower delivery flow can be separately selected from the selection of
the purified
water and the raw water.
[Fifth other aspect]
As another aspect of this fourth other aspect, the inner cylinder portion may
be
formed shorter, and a part of the flow path after having passed the cutoff
valve may be
provided inside of the water quality purification cartridge connected to the
short inner
cylinder portion.
That is to say, instead of the water quality purification cartridge 15, as
shown in Fig.
28 and Fig. 29, a new water quality purification cartridge 111 is formed,
which has a double
wall structure provided with a cartridge case 1 I la formed in a cylinder with
a bottom, with a
certain gap, on the outer peripheral side of each cap 15e, 15f ancl 15g. The
gap formed
between the cartridge case 11 la of the water quality purification cartridge
111 and each cap
15e, 15f and 15g is designated as a raw water tlow path 11 3 via a cutoff
valve 17.
On the head part 12 side, there is forn7ed a tip portion 114 having a
cartridge
accepting portion 11 e formed thereon, to which the attachment end of the
water quality
purification cartridge 111 is fitted, and at the tip portion 114, two
partition walls 114a and
114b perpendicular to the axial direction are provided with a gap inside of
the tip portion 114,
to thereby form two flow path spaces 115 and 116. Each communicating passage
115a, 115b
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and 116b, and a hole 116a are formed such that the flow path space 115
communicates with
the raw water flow path 113 of the water cluality purification cartridge l 11
via the
communicating passage 115a, and cominunicates with a t7ow path 1 17 on the
downstream
side of the cutoff valve 17 via the communicating passage 115b, and the flow
path space 116
communicates with a reception portion oi' a germicidal ceramic 15d and the
central space 22
of the water quality purification cartridge l l 1 via the hole 1 l 6a formed
in the central portion
of the partition wall 114a, and communicates with a collecting portion 118 via
the
communicating passage 116b.
Thereby, when the attachnient end of the water quality purification cartridge
1 l 1 is
fitted to a cartridge accepting portion 114 formed in the head part 12, the
raw water flows
into the holding part 11 from the hose connecting portion 11 f, passes through
the outer
peripheral tlow path 21 of the water qua(ity purification cartridge 111 and
reaches the
upstream side of the cutoff valves 16 and 17, and passes through the cutoff
valve 17 on the
purification side to flow out to the flow path space 115 via the communicating
passage 1 15b.
Ftu=ther, the raw water flows out to the raw water flow path 113 formed inside
of the water
quality purification cartridge 111, via the communicating passage 115a to
infiltrate into and
penetrate through the inside of the water quality purification material 15a,
and then comes out
to the central space 22, passes through tlie germicidal ceraniic 15d clamped
between the non-
woven fabrics 15b and 15c, flows out to the flow path space 116 via the hole
116a, and
further flows out to the collecting portion 118 via the comnlunicating passage
116b, and
passes small holes in the sintered magnetic body 19 to be delivered from the
straight delivery
port or the shower delivery port.
In this manner, there can be formed a shower head having a water purification
flow
path in which the raw water flowing into the holding part I 1 passes through
the outer
peripheral flow path 21 of the water quality purification cartridge 111 and
reaches the cutoff
valve 17 for purification, and flows through the cutoff valve 17 and via the
raw water flow
path 113 formed inside of the water quality puritication cartridge l 11 to the
water quality
purification material 15a, and this holcling part 11 can be used in the same
operation aspect as
that of the above embodiment.
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[Sixth other aspect]
Moreover, the construction may be such that the relation between the operation
of
the push button 13 incorporated in the head part 12 and the opening/closing
action or the
delivery condition of each cutoff valve 16, 17 is made opposite to the case of
the above
embodiment, so that in the case of pushing the push button 13 deep, purified
water is
discharged, and at the position of sliallow indentation of the push button 13,
raw water is
discharged.
For example, in the case where the arrangement of each cutoff valve 16, 17 in
the
head part is made the same as that of the above embodiment, in the fourth
other aspect and
the fifth other aspect, since the water purification flow path is different,
purified water is
discharged when the push button 13 is pushed deep, and at the position of
shallow indentation
of the push button 13, raw water is diseliarged.
Also in the above embodiment, if the position of the valve seat of the cutoff
valve 16
and the cutoff valve 17 is made such that the positions on the raw water side
and the purified
water side are opposite to each other, the discharge state by means of the
operation of the
push button is reversed, so that in the case of shallow indentation of the
push button 13, raw
water is discharged, and in the case of deep indentation of the push button
13, purified water
is discharged.
In these cases, other functions are not changed, and similarly functions.
[Seventh other aspect]
In the above embodiment, the operation end of the flow path switching valve is
formed as a push button type, but the driving method of the valving element
may be changed
to change the operation end to a lever type.
That is to say, as shown in Fig. 30 and Fig. 31, the cutoff valve 16 for raw
water and
the cutoff valve 17 for purified water change its height by means of the
cutoff valve 16 and
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the cutoff valve 17, and arranged such that the upper side is for raw water
and the lower side
is for purified water.
A plate material corresponding to the floor on which the valve seat 16a of the
cutoff
valve 16 for raw water is provided is fornied as a partition plate 121 for
dividing the space
between the cutoff valve 17 for purified water and the cutoff valve 16 for raw
water into
upper and lower spaces, and a plate material corresponding to the floor on
which the valve
seat 17a of the cutoff valve 17 for purified water is provided is formed as a
partition plate 122
f'or dividing the space between the collecting portion 18 and the cutoff valve
17 for purified
water.
At the position where the valve seat 16a of the cutoff valve 16 for raw water
is
provided, a cylindrical member 122a arranged in a standing condition above the
partition
plate 122 is fitted to a cylindrical member 21a hung down below a partition
plate 121 axially
movably and sealably, to thereby form aiaw water flow path 123 for linking the
upper space
of the partition plate 121 with the lower space of the partition plate 122.
Above the partition plate 12 1, there is formed a space on the upstreain side
of the
cutoff valve 16 communicating with the flow path 23 on the outer peripheral
side of the
cartridge accepting portion 11 e, and below the partition plate 122, there is
the collecting
portion 18 formed on the downstream side of the cutoff valve 17, and the space
between the
partition plate 121 and the partition plate 122 becomes the space on the
upstream side of the
cutoff valve 17 communicating with the flow path 24 on the inside of the
cartridge accepting
portion l le.
On the side peripheral face on the front side of'the head part 12, there is
provided a
concave portion 124 formed including the partition plate 121, as a space for
incorporating the
operation lever. A support shaft 125 for the operation lever which
perpendicularly penetrates
this concave portion 124 is rotatably mounted, with a valving element support
member 16c of
the cutoff valve 16 being fixed to the upper end of the support shaft 125, and
a valving
element support member 17c of the cutoff valve 17 being fixed to the lower end
of the
support shaft 125. The operation lever 126 having an operation end 126b
protruding in a
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cylinder shape from a planar base 126a extended in the radial direction of the
support shaft is
externally fitted to the central portion of the support shaft 125. In the
vicinity of the place
where each valving element support member 16c, 17c of the suppoi-t shaft 125
is fixed, the
operation lever 126 is fitted to bearings 125a and 125b fixed to the partition
plate 121,
respectively, to support the support shaft 125 rotatably.
As a result, the respective valving element support members 16c and 17c of the
respective cutoff valves 16 and 17 operate at the same time in the rotation
direction of the
support shaft 125, which rotates corresponding to the motion of the operation
end of the
operation lever 126, to open or close the ctitoff valves 16 and 17,
respectively.
[Eighth other aspect]
In the seventh other aspect, the operation end of the flow patll switching
valve is
formed as a lever, the operation end may be formed in a seesaw type push
button.
That is to say, as shown in Fig. 32 and Fig. 33, a seesaw type push button 127
is
formed in such a manner that the portion of the operation end 126b, protruding
in the cylinder
shape from the base 126a extended in the radial direction of the operation
lever 126, is
2o removed, and instead thereof, a dent is inade in the front f:ace 127a
of'the central portion, to
make the opposite side ends 127b and 127c project outward (frontward) from the
external
face of the head part 12, so that the push button 13 can be pushed selectively
by selectively
pushing the one of the outward projectitig side end 127b or 127c. Otller parts
thereof are
formed similarly to those in the seventli other aspect.
As a result, the operation end of the seesaw type push button is realized. By
pushing
one of the side end 127b or the side end 127c, the valving element support
members 16c and
17c of the respective cutoff valves 16 and 17 operate at the same time in the
rotation direction
of the support shaft 125, which rotates corresponding to the motion of the
side end, to open or
close the cutoff valves 16 and 17, respectively. In this manner, the same
action as that of the
lever type can be performed.
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[Ninth other aspect]
In the above embodiment, the operation portion of the delivery flow switching
valve
is formed as an operation lever, but the operation portion may be formed as a
rotary operation
portion.
That is to say, as shown in Fig. 34 and Fig. 35, a rotary delivery flow
switching
valve 134 is formed in such a mantier that the flow path is branched to the
shower delivery
port 12a and the straight delivery port 12b by a branching portion 133, from a
collecting and
transient section 132 provided in a partition member 13 1.
The flow path of this rotary delivery flow switching valve 134 is formed so
that by
rotating a screen member 135 forming the shower delivery port 12a about the
vertical axis by
90 degrees, at the time of delivery from the shower delivery port, the flow
path is changed to
the shower delivery port 12a at the branching portion 133 from the collecting
and transient
section 132, as shown in Fig. 34, and by rotating the screen nlember 135 about
the vertical
axis by 90 degrees from the position of at the time of delivery from the
shower delivery port,
at the time of straight delivery flow, the flow path of the rotary delivery
flow switching valve
134 is not changed at the branching portion 133, and directly reaches the
straight deliveiy
port 12b as shown in Fig. 35.
The construction of such a rotary delivery flow switching valve 134 is such
that it
comprises: the screen member 135 forming the shower delivery port 12a as well
as fornlirig
the straight delivery port 12b by providing a cylindrical llange portion in
the central portion;
a flow path changing member 137 engaged with the upper end portion of a
cylinder portion
136 forming the straight delivery port 12b, which rotates in the same
direction as that of the
screen member 135, with the rotation of the screen member 135; a partition
member 131
which separates a space for housing a sintered magnetic body 19 and a shower
delivery flow
water accumulation space for accumulating the combination water discharged
from the
shower, and forming the collecting and trarisient section 132 in the central
portion; and an 0-
ring 140 provided on the straight delivery flow side of the flow path changing
rnember 137,
with the screen member 135 and the ilow path changing niember 137 being
combined and
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screwed to the collecting and transient section 132, and the screen member 135
and the flow
path changing member 137 being assembled rotatably around the axis of the
screw 138,
As shown in Fig. 36 and Fig. 37, the screen member 135 is provided with a
cylinder
portion 136 forming the straight delivery port 12b in the central portion of a
plate portion
135a, which forms the shower delivery port 12a having a plurality of small
holes drilled
therein, and provided with a ring-sliaped edge portion 135b engaged with the
partition
member 131 on the outer peripheral edge of the plate portion l 35a and
rotatably mounted to
the head part 12. On the inner face of the edge portion 135b, there are formed
lobes 135c
io protruding towards the center, at four places on the periphery with equal
pitch, thereby
enabling engagement with a groove engraved on the partition member 131.
At the end portion of the cylinder portion 136 located on the same side with
the side
where the edge portion 135b of the plate portion 135a is protruding, there are
formed concave
portions 136a or convex portions 136b, so that the same concave and convex
portions are
located at the axisymmetrically confronting positions, where the end face is
divided into four
equal parts, and the axially concave and convex portions are fortned in two
places alternately
on the periphery.
The flow path changing metnber 137 is provided with an internal partition l
37b,
which forms two flow paths in a ring-shaped outer peripheral portion 137a
intervened
between the partition member 131 and the screen member 135, as shown in Fig.
38 and Fig.
39.
The internal partition 137b is constructed such that there are formed an
axially
penetrating bolt hole 137c and two holes 137d for straight delivery flow at
axisymmetrical
positions, and on the face abutting on the partition member 131 of the
internal partition 137b,
0-ring grooves 137e for fitting an 0-ring 1,10 to be provided around each hole
137d are
engraved, grooves 137f coming off to the side are engraved at positions
rotated by 90 degrees
from each hole 137d, and holes 137g penetrating the wall face are formed on
the side of the
corresponding outer peripheral portion 1 37a, so that combination water can
flow out to the
side from the grooves 137f via tlie holes 137g.
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In the internal partition 137b, there are formed concave portions 137h, which
1-iave
concave and convex portions at positions opposite to those of the grooves
137f, at positions
where the grooves 137f are not formed on the face on the downstream side, so
that concave
portions 136a and the convex portions 136b of the cylinder portion 136
provided in the
screen member 135 can be fitted thereto.
The partition member 131 is formed, as shown in Fig. 40 and Fig. 41, in a
shape
having cylindrical fitting portions 131b and 131c respectively projected
towards the both
sides of a disc 131 a on the outer periphery thereof. A ring-shaped lobe 131 d
is provided with
the height thereof being adjusted so that in the case where the sintered
magnetic body 19 is
placed on the face on the upstream side oi'the disc 131 a, there is a
predetermined gap, and the
collecting and transient section 132 protruding to the downstream side is
formed in the
central portion of the disc 131 a.
The collecting and transient section 132 comprises a screw hole 132a having a
cylindrical external face, and formecl on the downstream side of the central
portion without
penetrating through to the upstream side (o= a hole formed in a smaller size
so as to be
secured by screwing a screw 138), a ring-sllaped groove 132b formed from the
upstream side
on the outer peripheral side of the screw hole 132a so that the combination
water having
passed through the sintered magnetic body 19 can flow in, and two through
holes 132c
formed in a fan shape, one each at a position axisymmetrical witli respect to
the center,
corresponding to the groove 132b.
The concave portions 136a and the convex portions 136b of the cylinder portion
136
provided in the screen meniber 135 are fitted to the backside of the groove
137f and the
concave portion 137h of the flow patli changing member 137, in the collecting
and transient
section 132 provided in this partition me-nber 131, so that the screen mernber
135 and the
flow path changing member 137 are assembled rotatably with respect to the
partition member
131 with the screw 138. As a result, Changeover between the straight delivery
flow and the
shower delivery tlow can be done, by holding the outer peripheral face of the
screen member
135 and rotating it about the axis of the screw 138.
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[Tenth other aspect]
In the above embodiment, the sliower head 10 is connected to the flexible hose
3
connected to the combination taps 2, but the construction may be such that
there is no hose 3,
and the shower head 10 is directly connected to the combination taps 2.
In this case, for example, as shown in Fig. 42, a delivery port 62a of
combination
taps 62 is formed to have a thicker diameter than that of the hose connecting
portion 1 l f
formed in the holding part 11 of the shower head 10, and a direct connection
adapter 151 is
fitted to a hose mounting screw l I d fornied in the hose connecting portion
11 f, and the direct
connection adapter 151 is inserted into the delivery port 62a of the shower
head 10, to
thereby connect the shower head 10 to the conibination taps 62 directly.
The direct connection adapter 151 has a gasket groove 151 a engraved on the
inside
thereof so that a sealing gasket 152 can be intervened between the hose
connecting portion
II f and the direct connection adapter 151. and an 0-ring groove 151b on the
outside thereof,
to which a sealing 0-ring 153 is fitted. At the position on the shower head
side of the place
where the 0-ring groove is engraved, a plurality of screw insertion lioles
151c for fixing the
position are engraved on the circumference with an equal pitch.
The delivery port 62a has a screw hole 62b for fixing the position of the
shower head
engraved thereon. In the case of connecting the shower head 10 to the
combination taps 62, a
screw 63 is screwed into the screw hole 62h, and the point of the screw 63 is
inserted into the
screw insertion hole 151 c provided on the ciirect comiectiotl adapter 151, so
that the shower
head 10 directly mounted to the delivery port 62a is prevented from rotating
about the axis or
coming off.
As a result, the shower head 10 directly mounted to the combination taps 62
can be
used in the same manner as the faucet.
[Eleventll other aspect]
41
CA 02373654 2002-07-29
Doc. No. 76-05 CA/PCT Patent
In the above embodiment, the shower head 10 is connected to the combination
taps 2
or 62, but it may be connected to a single tap for discharging only hot water
or water, instead
of the combination taps 2 or 62.
For example, as shown in Fig. 43, the shower head 10 is connected to a
flexible hose
74 connected to a single tap 73 for water, and held detachably to a holder
section75 in the
same manner as in the errtbodiment.
As a result, by the operation of a lever 73a provided on the single tap 73,
discharging
or stopping water is changed over by moving the lever 73a up and down, and the
quantity of
discharged water is adjusted by moving the lever 73a to the left or right.
Moreover, as
required, the shower head 10 is taken out lrom the holder section75, to
discharge water at an
optional position within the range where tlie hose 74 can reach.
42
